Background

Myanmar has embarked on a major transition towards democracy, market style economy and peace. Myanmar has low middle-income status (LMIC) and is committed to lifting itself out of Least Developed Country (LDC) status within the next seven years. Following the implementation of the first ever UNDP Country Programme during 2013-2017 and as a key development partner of the government of Myanmar, UNDP will implement a new UNDP Country Programme for the period 2018-2022, striving to deliver on a large and relevant programme portfolio that is responsive to the main development challenges facing the country.

The UNDP Myanmar Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Team anchors UNDP’s programme portfolio in these areas of sustainable and inclusive growth issues (including economic growth, environment, climate change and disaster risk reduction) and provides thought leadership on cross-cutting development issues in Myanmar, and globally, to ensure that UNDP’s mandate of convening development partners in support of the national development agenda, informed by a commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, is amplified by internal knowledge, research, and stand-out policy advice.

Given the importance of energy sector for the poverty reduction, and sustainable and inclusive growth in Myanmar, UNDP developed a project concept (PIF) “Myanmar Rural Renewable Energy Development Programme” in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and in consultations with the relevant line ministries/departments. The PIF was submitted to Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and was approved by GEF secretariat.

A Project Preparation Grant (PPG) has been obtained to carry out necessary analyses and prepare a full-fledged project proposal. In order to ensure the results of the project preparation work, UNDP is seeking a National Project Development Coordinator to work as the GEF PPG Team Member to produce a project document along with a set of relevant evidence based analysis for submission to the GEF. The approved PIF is attached to build on and develop a fully formulated project proposal. The proposed project aims to contribute into the following outcome areas;

1.  Effective implementation of supportive policies for enhanced renewable energy utilization in rural productive uses;

2.  Strengthened market demand for affordable renewable energy technologies for rural livelihoods application;

3.            Increased investments in rural renewable energy for productive uses and enterprise development

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Chief of Unit (Sustainable and Inclusive Growth) and technical support of the UNDP-GEF Technical Advisor, the Rural Renewable Energy Project Development Specialist will be the GEF PPG Team Leader and will be responsible for quality assurance and timely preparation of all reports and documentation, including the finalized UNDP Project Document (Pro Doc) and CEO Endorsement Request, with all mandatory and project specific Annexes and supporting documentation. S/he will be responsible for managing all consultants on the GEF PPG Team, and coordinating the Team’s work.

UNDP Myanmar will lead the project development process and manage the GEF PPG budget in full consultation with the UNDP-GEF Technical Adviser. The GEF project preparation team will be composed of the following:

1)            International Specialist for Project Development (Team Leader)

2)            International Specialist in Renewable Energy Financing (and using the DREI approach)

3)            National Specialist in Rural Renewable Energy (Technology)

4)            National Specialist in Rural Development

5)            National Specialist in Gender Analysis and Social Safeguards

6)            National Project Development Coordinator/Translator  

In executing necessary preparation of the full-fledge project proposal, the International Specialist will carry out the following tasks;

1. Management of the GEF PPG Team

   • Define and submit a detailed methodology and work plan (Inception Report) in consultation with the other consultants with clear delegation of responsibilities for the International Consultants (ICs) and National Consultants (NCs);

   • Ensure that project development is participatory, gender-responsive and based on extensive stakeholder engagements; and

   • Verify and ensure that all project components are technically sound and cost effective.

2. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs:

   • Compile baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of baseline projects, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes; definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; and presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices as appropriate;

   • Oversee the stakeholder analysis and consultations (including private sector stakeholders in renewable energy development) and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive;

   • Ensure the preparation of the gender analysis and ensure its findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework;

   • Ensure action points, including risk assessments, from the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) at the PIF stage (“pre-screening”) are fully implemented during the PPG, and update that screening in an iterative fashion throughout the PPG, as appropriate;

   • Conduct/oversee the identification of the project sites, with documentation of selection criteria;

   • Oversee the consultations with partners regarding financial planning; and

   • Ensure completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs.

3. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, and based on international best practice:

   1. Facilitate the logical framework workshop and develop, present and articulate the project’s theory of change;

   2. Develop the Results Framework in line with UNDP-GEF policy;

   3. Develop a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget;

   4. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan;

   5. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget;

   6. Update the SESP based on assessments undertaken during Component A, and ensure the development of environmental and/or social management plan(s) for all risks identified as Moderate or High in the SESP;

   7. Prepare the required GEF tracking tool(s);

   8. Secure and present agreements on project management arrangements;

   9. Ensure the completion of the required official endorsement letters (including co-financing); and

   10. Synthesize all analyses, studies, etc. that are prepared under Components A and B to produce the draft UNDP-GEF ProDoc, GEF CEO Endorsement, and all mandatory and project specific Annexes, using the required templates.

4. Validation Workshop (Component C):

   • Lead the validation workshop to present, discuss and validate the final draft ProDoc and mandatory and project specific annexes, with a special focus on the SESP and any management plans; and

   • Oversee all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop.

   • Ensure completion of Validation Workshop Report.

5. Final Deliverables:

   • Consolidation of all technical and consultation inputs including from national stakeholders, UNDP, GEF Secretariat, STAP and GEF Council, into a well written and concise UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes, in line with the standard UNDP-GEF ProDoc template and annotated guidance;

   • Completion of the GEF CEO Endorsement Request;

   • All documentation from GEF PPG (including technical reports, etc.); and

   • Validation Workshop Report.

Preparation of this key deliverable will include quality control and final formulation of the following indicative sections of a UNDP/GEF compliant project document:

• Theory of Change (The detailed theory of change (ToC), based on the studies and data collection undertaken in Component A, will be developed.)

• Results Framework

• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)Plan and Budget

• Stakeholder Engagement Plan

• Gender Action Plan and Budget

• Social and Environmental Standards

• GEF Tracking Tool(s)

• Project Management Arrangements

• Completion of the required official endorsement letters (including the official letters on co-financing guarantee(s) from participating government institutions, bilateral development partners, multilateral development partners, NGOs, private sector, or others who wish to provide cash or in-kind contributions to the project)

As templates may be subject to change, the international specialist will be required to  obtain guidance from the UNDP GEF Regional Technical Advisor and UNDP CO on applicable formats and templates and ensure that his/her work is compliant with UNDP/GEF and UNDP CO requirements.

More detail information, please see following Procurement Notice link: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=44964

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP.

Technical competencies: 

• Ability to provide guidance on implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), including design and implementation of ABS and traditional knowledge policy and bioprospecting projects;
• Knowledge of environmental issues, NRM concepts, principles and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations;
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines.

Functional competencies:

• Development and Operational Effectiveness:
• Ability to contribute to strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Demonstrates practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP. 

Client Orientation:

• Maintains relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; 
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
• Excellent reporting skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education: 

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as energy policy, law or finance, renewable energy industry development, and renewable energy technology;

Experience: 

• Minimum 7 years of demonstrable experience in the related technical areas such as economic growth, natural resource management, energy, environment, and climate change and disaster risk reduction;

• Knowledge of GEF, UNDP policies, procedures and practices (including Social and Environmental Screening and Gender Analysis) and working experience with international organizations or GEF funded projects is a must;

• Demonstrable experience in preparing high quality UNDP and GEF project documents, (direct project formulation and management is preferable)

• Work experience in Asian countries is an asset;

• Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in the substantive area;

• Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, ability to manage technical team and long term strategic partnership;

• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and ability to work in an independent manner;

• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.

• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills

• Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office)

Language skills: 

• Excellent English language skills with strong technical writing skills, effective oral and communication skills